"Not Too Late For a War Crimes Tribunal," on Reagan by

[txprog]

Jim Wahsburn in the Orange County Weekly in February of 2002. Solid and comprehensive piece about why this guy was a disaster.

But when you talk about canonizing him, you can go suck a sprinkler head. Ronald Reagan may have been a likable guy—even in the White House, he answered his fan mail, sometimes enclosing a check to a citizen going through hard times—but his administration was also flat-out the most anti-democratic, hoodwinking, lying, Constitution-flouting, despot-coddling, rich-enriching, deficit-building, environment-despoiling, health-endangering, paranoid, cynical and fundamentally corrupt one in our nation’s history. Name a strip mine for it if you must, but no monuments, please.

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<http://www.ocweekly.com/ink/02/22/cover-washburn.php>

[papau]

1. A trial is a bit much - but he was a disaster for the nation

I only met Reagan a few times - and only close up with a bit of conversation once, but I found him to be someone that act the role of a person that believed what he was saying, was friendly, and was someone who after talking to him or listening to one his speeches left you feeling optimistic about the topic at hand.

I am amused by the folks that think he had something to do with the fall of the USSR - Gorby reacted to the problem Carter made for him with Afghanistan and the Carter Defense buildup plan budget that Carter released in summer 1980 - and which Reagan followed to the letter except for adding Star Wars to it. Indeed when Gorby wanted to give force of law to human rights in the USSR via treaty with the US, Reagan misunderstood, or did not care, and the give up of an unworkable SDI (needed to convince the USSR leaders that Human rights give up got them something)was something that was too much for Ronnie to give up. In the summer of 1979 the CIA reported that the USSR was spending 35% of GDP for Defense and had passed the stop point and would self destruct in the next 10 years - a report was briefly in the "public" (albeit never declassified) and one I hope is available again in the near future. Reagan was lousy at foriegn affairs.

And at domestic affairs, while I do not think he was mean - indeed he was the opposite of mean - and indeed he was only dishonest on occassion - he just did not care - or did not think the government should care, about the non-rich. The Reagan/Bush team entered with 7.2% unemployment, and 12 years later left with 7.2% unemployment. He was the first (the current Bush43 being the second) to prove that large tax cuts for the rich destroy the economy - Reagan's Aug 1981 tax cut led to a 14 month recession that was the worse in our history, just like Bush's did, and for the same reason - projected future deficits forever raise long term interest rates above where they would otherwise have been for the current economic situation - and the hurdle rate is too high for some new investments and the economy goes in the tank. It has happen twice now.

Reagan closed the warehouse mental facilities as Gov of CA promising to build new smaller facilities, then under funded that effort, putting mentally ill on the street - and the as Pres he killed on Mental health funding - then under the Carter Mental Health bill - and said it was now "block grants" - and then cut those "block grants" over time - and putting the mentally ill on the streets.

In 1981 he put those getting Social Security Disability on the streets as he called for a "review" - meaning no new approvals and in some cases a stop payment - that were 100% reversed by the courts (and by 1984's passing of Dem Tip O'Niel's new law that prevented further games)- but often after the disabled had died due to lack of funds so only the estate got the monies.

The lack of funds coming in as taxes after the tax cuts for the rich led to the largest tax increase in our history - 1982 TEFRA - and later tax increases under DEFRA and many minor multi-billion dollar bills, plus the payroll tax hike that allowed the GOP to finance the under payment of FIT via the backs of the working person paying Social Security Taxes to the tune of $1.5 trillion of overpayment to date - all the while as Reagan increased the age for full benefits under Social Security from age 65 to the current law 67 (now being phased in).

Reagan made you feel good, and was a kind man, but was a disaster for the non-rich in this nation.

[Karmadillo]

2. Excellent article, well worth reading. A nice antidote to the endless

propaganda to which we're currently being subjected by the free press. Thanks for posting.

[indepat]

3. If Reagan were all those, does he not now pale badly in comparison?

[Karmadillo]

4. Kick

n/t

[Karmadillo]

5. Morning kick

n/t

[Karmadillo]

6. One last reality check for those who missed it the first time and

are growing tired of the continuing deification.